Road safety consequences of new, special vehicle types; Safety of the scooter mobile, open 3- and 4-wheeled motor vehicles, and motor vehicles with limited speed If, in one of the countries of the European Union, a new vehicle type obtains a type approval, the other member countries are obliged to permit this vehicle type on their public roads. The only freedom that member countries have is to establish rules of use and determine on what road types the new vehicle type may be driven, and which not. Such a further regulation must, furthermore, satisfy a number of preconditions. This report deals in more detail the present traffic status of three categories of 'special vehicles'. Their road safety aspects are considered, and the desired behavioural rules for the drivers of these vehicles are looked at. The three categories of 'special vehicles' are: 1. the invalid vehicle, in particular the scooter mobile (an electrically powered scooter with 3 wheels); 2. the 3 and 4-wheeled motor vehicles with an open body, and a maximum, possible speed of more than 25 km/h (quad, trike, fun-tech""); 3. slow, heavy motor vehicles (max. 25 km/h), in particular the category 'motor vehicles with limited speed (limit)'. These also include the regular agricultural vehicles and those motor vehicles that have been rebuilt to an 'agricultural vehicle'. The nature and extent of the road safety problems of these vehicle types has been estimated. Accident data could, of course, not be used for these new vehicle types; which is why (among others) fleet and user data was used. This data was obtained from importers. The road safety consequences of using 'special vehicles' were also estimated using the theory formulation regarding a safe traffic system, as laid down in the principles of 'sustainably safe'. These safety analyses were used to make recommendations for a further regulation. The scooter mobile is not specifically dealt with in the Traffic and Roadsign Regulation (RVV) of 1990. It is recommended to apply the same behavioural rules for scooter mobile drivers as for pedestrians. The consequences of this should, however, first be studied. The scooter mobile has, however, been included in the Vehicle Regulation (VTR), viz. as an open invalid vehicle; but with a speed limit of 45 km/h. In this report, a speed limit of 6-7 km/h is advised. It is further recommended to make obligatory a training programme for scooter mobile users. As far as the open, light 3 and 4-wheel vehicles are concerned, the Netherlands should send a clear signal to the European Union, to be stricter in admitting such 'special vehicles'. There should also be, in the European guidelines, extra safety demands to prevent dangerous use. The demands that come into consideration are vehicle stability and the obligation of a solid roll bar in combination with seat belts. For those types already permitted to drive in the Netherlands, the crash helmet should be made obligatory. The conclusion concerning the motor vehicles with limited speed (limit), is that there is (some) talk of improper use. Seeing the global inventory, nothing is known about the size of the problem. The report does, however, make recommendations to confine the problems signalled. Thus the definition in the VTR of 'motor vehicle with limited speed' could be adjusted, and so could the behavioural rules in the RVV 1990. This also applies to issuing permits (or exceptions) and licence plate obligation; to simplify enforcement. As far as tractors are concerned, it was concluded that their use on public roads should be kept to a minimum.